The Decadent Diet

Dedicated low-carbers like to describe their way of eating as nutritious, filling, healthy and traditional. But what about people who want to eat decadently, not Puritanically? Who are sick of busybody goody-goodies and diet police? Low carb is good for them, too. On what other diet can you eat dip for dinner and dessert for breakfast?

Guacamole, pork rinds, crispy fried pork (fried in lard, seasoned with salt).

This isn't a cheat meal--you can have this every night and eat until you're full since there are hardly any carbs there. (Note that you can't substitute corn chips--they're too carby. And don't get guacamole that's full of carbs.) If the dinner looks a little skimpy, it's because I saved room for dessert.

Low carb, non dairy chocolate ice cream. It does have carbs in it, so go easy. Recipe here.

I'm not sure if this is what some people call "rewarding food," but I'm full. Granted, I was never obese, but I'm from a family full of wonky blood sugar and I know how it feels to be hungry enough to eat the wallpaper a couple of hours after a low-fat, starchy meal. Before I started low carb, I could put away a bag of cookies in a sitting. People knew not to get between me and a pan of brownies or pizza. In all other areas of life, I'm self-controlled: I've never bounced a check, never missed a deadline at work, and never tried drugs because I knew I'd be addicted to anything I really liked.

For most people, a low carb diet quells their appetite. Various clinical studies have found that people on low-carb diets spontaneously reduce their calorie intake.

You can be decadent on LC, but not out of control: starchy and sugary foods are out (or limited to very small amounts). Without the blood sugar swings those foods can bring on, though, it's easier to stay in control.